ACADEMY TENTATIVELY SELECTS NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Air Force Academy is pleased to announce it has tentatively selected Mr. James A. Knowlton as its new Athletic Director.   Mr. Knowlton served as the Athletic Director for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the past seven years.

As with any federal hiring process, the new hire is not official until all pre-employment requirements are completed and verified. The Academy remains committed to vigorously protecting the privacy of all who applied for the position - including the other finalists for the position.

Dr. Hans Mueh, the current Athletic Director will retire effective Jan. 31, 2015.  The Academy will host a formal introduction and press conference with Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, and the new Athletic Director once the hiring process is complete and the hire is official.

"We were extremely pleased to receive applications from many highly qualified candidates, which following our deliberate process, resulted in an exceptional group of finalists," Mueh said. "Mr. Jim Knowlton demonstrated the right level of intensity and experience, while still understanding the unique military culture at our United States Air Force Academy. He will balance the demands of the NCAA business with our absolute necessity to win with character.  He brings a fresh perspective, but knows the importance of athletics to all of our cadets, not just intercollegiate cadet-athletes.  I am confident he will set a culture and climate aligned with our core values.  I look forward to him joining our team."

"I am incredibly excited by the honor and privilege of serving as the director of athletics at the Air Force Academy and the opportunity to join an exceptional team and first-class community, on and off base," Knowlton said. "I want to thank Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson and the search committee for their invitation to join the Academy family, and I am eager to work with the Falcon cadet-athletes, coaches and staff. My family and I are very much looking forward to what lies ahead."

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